Passengers stranded as aviation unions shut down Arik Air operations
(Nigeria) Aviation unions on Tuesday shut down the operations of Arik Air, leaving hundreds of the airline’s passengers stranded across the country.
The strike was embarked upon by the National Union of Air
Transport Employees, NUATE, the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association
of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and
Engineers, NAAPE, according to NAN.
The unions embarked on the joint strike following the
airline’s failure to pay seven months salary arrears and other alleged
anti-labour practices.
The unions said the industrial action would continue
indefinitely until their demands are met by the management of Arik Air.
They shut down Arik Air’s flight operations at both the
local and international wings of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and also
barricaded the airline’s corporate headquarters within the airport premises.
As early as 6a.m., the aggrieved workers stormed the airport
chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with various inscriptions,
denouncing the actions of Arik Air’s management.
Addressing the protesters, Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NUATE, said the unions decided to ground Arik Air
for safety reasons.
Abioye said : “Arik Air has refused to pay workers salaries
for seven months and we know that a disgruntled worker is an accident waiting
to happen.
“The airline has been defaulting in taxes and other
statutory deductions from workers remunerations.
“The management has refused to allow total unionisation of
its employees, in compliance with extant labour laws and with respect to the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He also demanded for the immediate reinstatement of five of
the airline’s employees who were sacked for their involvement in unionism.
Abioye further alleged that Arik Air was owing about N13
billion and N6 billion to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN and
the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, respectively.
According to him, the airline was also indebted to its
aviation fuel suppliers and ground handlers and should therefore be declared
insolvent by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.
Also speaking, Mr Frances Akinjole, General Secretary,
ATSSSAN, said the unions were prepared to embark on the strike for as long as
possible.
“Things cannot be business as usual for Arik. A pilot who is
disgruntled can crash an aircraft deliberately. An engineer who is being owed
salaries can sabotage the aircraft.
“So we need to ground Arik Air until the management shows
that they are responsible,” Akinjole added.
Some of Arik Air’s passengers at the General Aviation
Terminal resorted to changing their travel plans as there was no staff to
attend to them at the airline’s counter.
One of the passengers, Ms Tomisin Olukare, said she bought a
one-way ticket from Lagos to Abuja at N42, 000 three days ago.
“I came this morning and there is nobody to attend to me and
my flight is supposed to leave by 10a.m., so I am really confused,” she said.
Another passenger, Mrs Chika Emmanuel, said an agent
assisted her in buying an Air Peace ticket for Abuja immediately she sensed
that there was going to be a disruption on Arik Air operations.
Emmanuel said she would be demanding for a refund of her
ticket from Arik Air when she returns from her trip.
When contacted, the Corporate Communications Manager of Arik
Air, Mr Ola Adebanji, said the airline would soon issue a statement explaining
their position on the situation.
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